Intel buys McAfee to enter mobile market, analysts say

Beijing time August 20 morning news, foreign media commented today, Intel acquired Security software company McAfee, is intended to help itself in the handheld devices and embedded market to find a real foothold. The following is the full text of the article: Intel Thursday announced the acquisition of 7.68 billion U.S. dollars in cash to purchase McAfee, said the acquisition will help Intel consolidate hardware products and software security services, thereby enhancing device security.　　Intel says this will benefit Intel and McAfee products and improve security performance for products such as servers and mobile devices. "We hope this transaction will better protect Internet users and their devices," said Otellini Paul Otellini, Intel's CEO.　　"The acquisition will be seen in the first half of 2011," Lanny James Renee James, senior vice president of the Intel Software and services Group Software. Some analysts, however, expressed doubts about the takeover, saying that Intel does not have close business ties with McAfee and questions how Intel will put McAfee software into application.　　Intel's main business is the processor, which does not sell computers or phones directly to users, and McAfee is known for its security software. But other analysts think it is necessary to improve the safety of the equipment.　　As more devices are connected to the Internet, both hardware and software need to further enhance data protection. Mobile and embedded strategy Intel dominates the computer and server processor market, but is keen to tap into handheld devices and embedded markets, and wants to break into the processor market for a range of products from smartphones to TV set-top boxes. To achieve this goal, Intel adopts a strategy to strengthen the software business. The acquisition of McAfee will enable Intel to better integrate hardware and software security features and thus drive the sales of its processors, analysts said. Jim McGregor, chief analyst at Isuppli, said: "As Intel enters the mobile market, its hardware and software technology will work." "Intel particularly wants to take a seat in the smartphone market," he said. ARM processors now dominate the smartphone market. McAfee's software technology may add points for Intel's products. "If they control the software, they can optimize the hardware and ultimately make a profit," McGregor said. "The core of Intel's mobile strategy is a Low-power atom processor that has been used for Linux based Meego operating systems." Marketing research company J. Jackgold, Gold Associates analyst Jack Gold, believes Intel must enhance the security of the Atom Processor: "Many people think that Intel is a computer company and that is too narrow a view." In the long run, the processor designed for Windows is really important, but it is only one part of Intel's business. "Research"Intel wants to use McAfee to strengthen cloud computing and mobile services," Richard Mogul, a company Securosis analyst, said. Intel will apply McAfee products and technologies to hardware products. "But Mogul also thinks Intel is buying too much," I don't think the acquisition is so valuable. Especially in the mobile phone market, competition is already in the hands of handset makers and software developers. Integrated hardware advantages and software technology Intel has enhanced a range of enterprise computer security features through the VPro platform and developed computer anti-theft technology.　　The focus now is on how to leverage McAfee's strengths in hardware. Nathan Brookwood, the first analyst with Insight 64, believes Intel can first design hardware products that better match McAfee software. Nassen Brook This requires the designer to reprogram itself, to make changes inside the chip, such as adding security features to the motherboard BIOS, or adding pattern matching at the hardware level, and so on. It will take 3-4 years.　　On the other hand, adding algorithms such as digital signatures directly to help detect viruses is more difficult, requiring frequent updates. Brooke Wood believes that Intel has developed a mechanism to increase the security of the processor. The first step is to buy the relevant companies and collaborate on the design: "A small move now could have a major change in 4-5 years." "Intel once owned its own anti-virus business, but was sold to Symantec in 1998," Symantec said. McAfee already has a secure software product line for mobile and embedded devices and announced plans to buy Tencube, a mobile phone security company, in July this year. This June, McAfee acquired Trust Digital, a corporate mobile management and security software vendor. (Shuko)